Scienza ensures Heidenheim stays in the league – the dream of Brazil is alive!

Scienza ensures Heidenheim stays in the league – the dream of Brazil is alive!

In an exciting second leg of the relegation match, 1. FC Heidenheim was able to secure relegation in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win against SV Elversberg on May 27, 2025. The decisive goal came in the last minute from Leonardo Scienza, who, despite cramps, made a remarkable sprint of 15 to 20 meters to score the decisive goal. Coach Frank Schmidt had already speculated on extra time in the final minutes when Scienza surprised him with his goal. This historic achievement is seen as a turning point for the club, especially after Heidenheim failed to get beyond a 2-2 draw in the first leg, where Scienza had already played a key role in both goals that led to the lead.

Scienza, who only moved to Heidenheim from SSV Ulm last summer, now has reason to be happy after a challenging season marked by criticism and arguments. He has scored three goals and as many assists in 25 league appearances, which is a solid performance by Premier League standards. Schmidt acknowledged Scienza's development and explained that overcoming criticism and challenges ultimately leads to greater appreciation.

The dream of Brazil

In addition to sporting success, Scienza also looks to the future and has the dream of being nominated for the Brazilian national team, the Seleção. However, he has not yet discussed this specifically with the new coach Carlo Ancelotti. Scienza describes his career as an “incredible” path that took him from Sweden to the Bundesliga. His beginnings were marked by difficulties, but the move to Schalke 04 in the summer of 2020 was a turning point, even if he only played in the second team there. After a time at 1. FC Magdeburg, he finally found his form at SSV Ulm and cracked the defense with 12 goals and 15 assists in the 3rd league.

Scienza is now planning to enjoy a well-deserved holiday after the season and recover from the strain of relegation. The Heidenheimers can look forward to continuing to defend their place in the Bundesliga, which guarantees the club important financial stability.

Relegation mode and historical reviews

The relegation between the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga follows a clear format: the 16th place in the Bundesliga meets the third place in the 2nd Bundesliga in home and away games, whereby there is no away goal rule. Extra time and, in case of doubt, a penalty shootout decide whether the team is promoted or stays in the league. In 2025, the relegation games took place on May 22nd and 26th, and the tense atmosphere is reflected in the history of past relegations. Teams like 1. FC Nürnberg, Hamburg and others have experienced similar thrills in recent years.

In conclusion, the future looks both challenging and promising for Leo Scienza and 1. FC Heidenheim. The players and fans can look forward to seeing what heights they will reach in the coming season.

For further information on the relegation games, see bundesliga.com. You can find out more about Leo Scienza's special story here sport1.de. For details on the game and what it means for Heidenheim, visit sportschau.de.